Cycle India - Tuesday 8th January
Ian Fulton's Write Up, cycle india 2008
The fourth and last day of cycling and we wanted to arrive at the HEAL Children’s Village as early in the afternoon as possible, so another early start – ready for breakfast at 6 for a 6.30 departure. Good effort, but make that breakfast at 6.30 for a 7.30 departure. Terry was a lot better, but still couldn’t be trusted on a bike without a commode, so had to travel in one of the support vehicles.
There was a real buzz about cycling on the final day and this was heightened when we cycled through the small town of Srinivasa. Here, we were greeted by more than a thousand children lining both sides of the street.
I was quite near the front of the ride when we hit the town and was stunned by the crowds.
As we left the town, we were just saying how fantastic the reception had been as one of the motorbike riders caught us up to say that an impromptu stop had been arranged at one of the town’s schools. We therefore had to turn round and go back. Cue more cheering and waving – I can see what keeps Robbie Williams going!
We actually made a brief stop at each of the three schools in the town and were amazed by the good behaviour and discipline of the children, as well as their incredible enthusiasm towards this strange bunch of people that had arrived before them. Thankfully, Terry had managed to get back on her bike a couple of kilometres before the town and was able to witness all of this. She also stayed in the saddle for the final 20 kilometres to the Children’s Village.
The welcome at the Children’s Village in the afternoon was incredible. Bigger garlands than ever, cheering crowds, a band, the unveiling of a plaque, and a walk around surrounded by hordes of children.
More food, of course, then an afternoon concert put on by the children, including singing, dancing, gymnastics, martial arts, pottery, painting, in fact just about everything. Then we had time to clean up and take a more leisurely look around the Village and the school.
Time to tell you a little about the HEAL charity. In 1992, HEAL’s Founder President, Dr Prasad (one of the older cyclists on the trip!), donated his family home in the town of Guntur to be a home for younger orphaned children. Inspired by Dr Prasad’s donation, his friend, Dr Manga Devi, agreed to educate the children for free at her school. This was the start of HEAL and the Ankita Children’s Home.
HEAL’s Children’s Village, situated 15 kilometres outside Guntur, was opened in 1999, caring for more than 200 orphaned and destitute children, aged from 5 to 18. The village is situated in three acres of beautifully kept grounds, overlooked by mountain scenery. A boy’s dormitory, housing fifty teenage boys, was added in 2005. HEAL also set up a health centre opposite the Village, providing health care for the children and for the local community.
The Village sits opposite the Chetna project, which is a major educational and recreational facility where the children attend school. HEAL also funds a large number of ‘poverty trap’ children to attend the school. These are kids from very poor backgrounds who would otherwise not receive an education and who would almost certainly be in child labour or would be begging.
Arriving in the evening, there was another concert, followed by even more food, and then a coach to the nearby town of Guntur where we were staying in our most comfortable hotel yet, and a first reasonably early night.
What with the final day of cycling, the lunchtime reception, and the welcome and activities at the Children’s Village, the day had been hugely emotional and we were all pretty well drained and ready for our beds.
Matthew @ March 9, 2008